By R.L. Bynum
Kennedy Todd-Williams’ first season at Ole Miss hasn’t always gone smoothly, but she put it all together Sunday.
Nearly a year after she scored a career-high 22 points for Carolina in a win at Pittsburgh, Todd-Williams matched that in the Rebels’ 69–59 road win over Georgia.
“It’s a transition, being a transfer,” Todd-Williams said. “I think just really finding my way each day in practices. It’s all paying off, slowly but surely. I felt like this was a really good game for me to turn the page and to keep going with this.”
Todd-Williams, starting for the second time in three games after coming off the bench in the previous seven, scored a 3-pointer on the Rebels’ first possession and had seven points in the opening quarter to help Ole Miss (13–5, 3–2 SEC) take control early.
“Toddy is our hardest worker on the team,” Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said. “Toddy has been sowing seeds since she stepped foot on campus, but transfers, they just take awhile. I’ve been telling Toddy, ‘repay yourself for the work that you put in every single day.’ Nobody is more deserving of her having the type of performance she had.”
Todd-Williams scored a career-high 10 field goals, topping her previous best of seven field goals five times for the Tar Heels, and added six rebounds and five assists for a 22.0 game score.
“She took shots we knew she was going to make because we see her shoot them every day,” McPhee-McCuin said. “She was solid defensively and she wants to win. And she has earned the start. I thought it was a great switch up for us and I’m really proud of her.”
Ole Miss was No. 12 in the preseason poll but has been unranked since early December after back-to-back losses.
Caleb Love scored 14 points and two 3-pointers with three rebounds and two assists in No. 12 Arizona’s 77–72 Saturday home win over UCLA. The Wildcats (14–4, 5–2 Pac-12) have won two in a row since losing Jan. 13 at Washington State.
Dontrez Styles notched his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds Friday in Georgetown’s 92–91 loss at Xavier, the third straight loss and sixth in seven games for the Hoyas (8–10, 1–6 Big East).
Puff Johnson came off the bench to score 13 points and pull down seven rebounds in Penn State’s 79–67 Saturday loss at Ohio State. D’Marco Dunn had four points in 22 minutes for the Nittany Lions (9–10, 3–5 Big Ten), who have lost three of their last four games.
Tyler Nickel scored 12 points and three 3-pointers in Saturday’s 84–78 win at N.C. State, his ninth game scoring in double figures this season for the Hokies (11–7, 3–4 ACC) after combining for 14 points in the previous two games, both losses.
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Destiny Adams scored 11 points in Rutgers’ 56–50 home loss Sunday to Michigan in the 10th consecutive loss for the Scarlet Knights (6–15, 0–8 Big Ten).
Justin McKoy had seven points and 10 rebounds Saturday in Hawaii’s 67–61 loss at UC San Diego. The Rainbow Warriors (10–9, 2–5 Big West) have lost two in a row and four of their last five.
Kerwin Walton had six points, two 3-pointers and two rebounds in No. 25 Texas Tech’s 85–78 Saturday home win over No. 20 BYU. Next up for the Red Raiders (15–3, 4–1 Big 12) is a visit to No. 15 Oklahoma at 2 p.m. Saturday.
For the second consecutive UAB game, Will Shaver didn’t play. The Blazers (12–6, 4–1 American) won Saturday 69–61 at East Carolina.
Men’s players
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Monday’s opener — Oklahoma State 91, Incarnate Word 60 (home) | didn’t start: 15 minutes, 14 points, 5–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Friday — 9 p.m. vs. Queens, ESPN+
James Brown, Howard center
6–10, 240 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Monday’s opener — Yale 72, Howard 62 (road) | started: 30 minutes, 11 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–4 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — Howard 94, Alcorn State 89 (road) | started: 23 minutes, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls
Next Monday — 6 p.m. at Penn
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 40 games, 40 starts, 10.5 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 70.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Monday’s opener — No. 16 Michigan 84, Oakland 68 (home) | started: 34 minutes, 7 points, 1–5 FG, 0–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 0 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 turnovers, 4 steals, 2 fouls
Friday — 8 p.m. vs. UConn in Boston, TNT, truTV
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Monday’s opener — No. 22 UCLA 84, No. 5 Arizona 75 (in Las Vegas) | started: 38 minutes, 18 points, 5–17 FG, 4–12 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 4 fouls, plus/minus of 0
Thursday — 10:30 vs. Cal Poly, truTV
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Monday’s opener — Minnesota 85, North Dakota 50 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 4 points, 1–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 3 fouls
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. St. Thomas, NBCSN, Peacock
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Monday’s opener — South Florida 98, Charleston Southern 71 (home) | started: 22 minutes, 20 points, 9–15 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 steals, 3 fouls
Thursday — 8:30 at DePaul, truTV
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Monday’s opener — St. John’s 78, Monmouth 63 (home) | started: 22 minutes, 15 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls.
Sunday — noon vs. Iona at Madison Square Garden, Peacock
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Monday’s opener — N.C. State 83, Campbell 64 (home) | started: 26 minutes, 20 points, 8–8 FG, 3–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. ETSU, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Tuesday’s opener — Pacific 102, Bethesda 47 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — 8 p.m. at Bradley, ESPN+
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.2 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Monday’s opener — Pittsburgh 95, Rider 57 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 18 points, 6–9 FG, 6–9 3FG, 0–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block
Thursday — Pittsburgh 80, Buffalo 61 (home) | started: 39 minutes, 6 points, 2–9 FG, 2–9 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 steal
Sunday — 8 p.m. vs. Penn State at The Palestra in Philadelphia, ESPN2
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Monday’s opener — Samford 87, Berry 58 (home) | started: 18 minutes, 17 points, 7–10 FG, 3–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 4 blocks, 2 fouls
Saturday — 4 p.m. at UNLV
Seth Trimble, Louisville guard
6–3, 200 pounds | Fifth-year | UNC 2022–26 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 14.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 turnovers
Monday’s opener — No. 11 Louisville 84, Chattanooga 70 (home) | started: 27 minutes, 13 points, 4–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 4–7 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Saturday — noon vs. Morehead State, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
Women’s players
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.7 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Monday’s opener — No. 11 UCLA 73, Lehigh 53 (home) | started: 29 minutes, 9 points, 4–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 4 assists, 0 turnovers
Thursday — 10 p.m. vs. UC Irvine, B1G+
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Tuesday’s opener — BYU 67, Idaho State 50 (home) | didn’t start: 9:34, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5 rebounds
Thursday, Nov. 5 — 9 p.m. vs. Portland
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Tuesday’s opener — No. 15 TCU 99, Oral Roberts 43 (home) | 26 minutes, 12 points, 4–9 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, tied for team-high +40
Thursday — 7:30 vs. Le Moyne, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 30 games, 2.3 points, 43.6 FG%, 4–10 3FG, 69.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 8 blocks, 12 steals
Team record: 19–12
Tuesday’s opener — Incarnate Word 63, Tulsa 57 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — 3 p.m. vs. Rogers State
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 33 games, 0 starts, 341 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 23 steals, 1 block
Monday’s opener — Clemson 68, Radford 47 (home) | started: 30:22, 15 points, 6–12 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–4 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. ETSU, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via @OleMissWBB
